Endometriosis

Chelsea Centre for Minimally Invasive Gynaecological Surgery and Endometriosis

Chelsea and Westminster Hospital is a British Society for Gynaecological Endoscopy (BSGE) accredited endometriosis centre. We see patients from across the country who have been referred by their GP or hospital consultant for a specialist opinion.

We see new patients at any point in their diagnosis and treatment journey. We pride ourselves on providing holistic, patient-centred care.

We offer all treatment modalities for endometriosis, taking each patient’s circumstances and preferences into consideration. Options include medical (hormonal and non-hormonal) and surgical treatment (mostly minimal access, including robotic surgery and, when needed, open surgery).

We work closely with other specialists and allied health professionals and can offer concurrent review by other specialists, where appropriate. This helps to streamline the patient journey and support earlier improvement in symptoms.

We are the only centre in North West London to offer robotic surgery for endometriosis patients in the NHS. This technology allows us to perform complex operations with greater precision and collaborate closely with our colorectal surgical colleagues. As demand for robot-assisted surgery grows, we have recently expanded our service with a second robot to help reduce waiting times.

Our team

Endometriosis consultants and robotic surgeons:

  • Mr Jeffrey Ahmed (Service Lead)
  • Ms Manou Manpreet Kaur
  • Mr Thomas Bainton
  • Mr Nicholas Dixon
  • Ms Olivia Raglan
  • Ms Alba Bajrami (Locum Consultant)

Senior specialist registrars with an interest in endometriosis:

  • Ms Sarah Bennett, Research Fellow
  • Mr Jonathan Prest-Smith, Endometriosis Fellow
  • Mr Rami-Marios Saad, Endometriosis and Complex Gynaecology Fellow
  • Mr Konstantinos Lamprou, Minimal Access Surgery Fellow

Specialist clinical nurses in endometriosis and key points of contact for patients:

  • Caitlin Insley, Endometriosis and Fibroids Clinical Nurse Specialist
  • Alice Cousins, Fibroids and Endometriosis Clinical Nurse Specialist

Multidisciplinary team colleagues:

  • Colorectal surgeons: Mr Valerio Celentano, Mr Oliver Warren, Ms Ann-Marie Howell
  • Fertility specialists: Ms Kate Maclaren, Ms Lindaadaobi Ibeto
  • Urology specialists: Mr Bijan Khoubehi, Mr Hama Attar
  • Thoracic surgeon: Mr Simon Jordan
  • Radiologists: Dr Catriona Davies, Dr Julia Hillier, Dr Ioanna Papadopoulou
  • Pelvic floor physiotherapist: Miti Rach

What to expect

First appointment

This can be either in-person or via telephone consultation. If your appointment is a telephone consultation and you need an examination, then you will be invited to come in for an examination later. You can change your appointment from telephone to in-person and vice versa if this is more convenient for you, please email the admin team to do this in advance of your appointment on .

You will be reviewed by a member of the team, either the specialist nurse, senior registrar or consultant who will take a detailed history from you, perform a gynaecological examination if appropriate and make recommendation about further investigations or management in a collaborative approach with you.

It would be helpful if you can bring information about your previous endometriosis management if it is not included in your GP’s referral (eg, private scans and operations).

Here Ms Manou Manpreet Kaur, endometriosis consultant and robotic surgeon at the Trust shares more about what patients can expect when referred to an endometriosis specialist centre.

What happens next?

If your case is complex, we will discuss it at our monthly multidisciplinary team (MDT) meeting to ensure you receive the safest and most appropriate care.

The MDT consists of gynaecologists, colorectal surgeons, urologists, pain management specialists, fertility specialists and radiologists, all with an interest in endometriosis. Please note that there may be a waiting time for MDT discussion.

It is important that you tell us your treatment goals during your clinic appointment so that we can tailor the MDT discussion to you as an individual.

Subsequent appointments

You will be followed up either in person or by telephone to discuss your response to treatment, any new concerns, and the outcome of the MDT discussion if your case is complex. Between appointments, you can contact us via email and our specialist nurse will get back to you at the earliest opportunity.

Once you are stable on treatment (medical or surgical), we will usually offer discharge so that you can focus your time on other things. However, for some patients this may not be appropriate. In these cases, we can offer patient-initiated follow-up for up to two years, giving you control over when you would like to be seen. If this is something you are interested in, please ask in clinic, or we will offer it if appropriate.

Estimated waiting times

  • New appointments: 3 months from referral to clinic appointment
  • MDT discussion: 3–6 months from clinic to discussion at the MDT
  • Surgery waiting list: This is variable and depends on clinical priority:
    • Priority 1 (emergency): within 72 hours
    • Priority 2 (suspected cancer based on imaging): within 4 weeks
    • Priority 3 (e.g. concerns about bowel or ureter obstruction): within 3 months
    • Priority 4 (no cancer concerns on imaging): may take more than 3 months (up to 12 months)

We also organise additional operating lists at weekends to help reduce waiting times. If you are available at short notice for surgery, please let us know in clinic or via email so we can contact you if an extra list becomes available.

  • Scan and blood test results: These will usually be discussed at your next clinic appointment. If there is a serious abnormality, we will contact you sooner. You can also access results via your Patients Know Best account or through your GP.
  • Follow-up appointments: Variable depending on your management plan and symptoms. Appointments are usually available within 4–6 months. You can also contact the endometriosis nurse team via email at chelwest.endometriosis@nhs.net.

Contact information

Endometriosis service
Gynaecology Outpatients
Chelsea and Westminster Hospital
1st Floor, Lift Bank B

E: or

Helpful resources

This section includes self-management strategies that may help to support endometriosis symptoms.

Education about endometriosis

Importance of sleep

Sleep plays an important role in quality of life and social, emotional and physical wellbeing. People with endometriosis are more prone to problems with sleep. Adults should aim to get 6–9 hours of sleep each night. If you are struggling with sleep, speak to your GP and read this helpful leaflet.

Physical exercise, yoga and pilates

There is limited research on endometriosis and general physical activity. Self-care and maintaining good physical and psychological health can have a positive impact on overall wellbeing.

  • Start or continue exercise based on your own experience, and take a gradual approach to increasing physical activity
  • A simple search on YouTube for yoga for endometriosis
  • Our pain clinic has many resources on its YouTube channel

Diet

There is limited evidence on dietary changes to support endometriosis symptoms. However, avoiding constipation and known individual triggers of bladder symptoms may be helpful.

Following a healthy and balanced diet is important for everyone, but there is some evidence to suggest that the following may help in some cases:

  • Green tea, resveratrol (found in grapes), fish oil and soy isoflavones may have anti-inflammatory effects (based on animal studies)
  • An anti-inflammatory or Mediterranean diet may help to manage inflammation
  • A gluten-free diet may help, particularly if you also have coeliac disease
  • A low FODMAP diet (low fermentable oligosaccharides, disaccharides, monosaccharides and polyols) may reduce gastrointestinal symptoms such as bloating. This is a restrictive diet intended for short-term use only and may require preparation and support. Please speak to your GP for further advice or referral to a gastroenterologist or dietitian.

For more guidance on diet and nutrition support for endometriosis, visit Endometriosis.net and Endometriosis UK.

Emotion-focused strategies

Although more endometriosis-specific evidence is needed to support the strategies below, they are known to be effective interventions in chronic pain more generally. In the absence of harmful side effects, these strategies may be worth trying.

  • Relaxation, breathing exercises and mindfulness – these can be practised at home using a range of websites and/or audio downloads
  • If health-related anxiety and worries are interfering with your daily life or quality of life, it is important to seek professional psychological support, for example CBT, ACT or counselling
  • Free self-referral to Talking Therapies. If you live in another borough, find your local service by searching IAPT + the name of your borough
  • Basic information on ACT is freely available in the first two chapters of ACT Made Simple by Dr Harris (2009) – search ACT Made Simple in Google Books
  • More information is available in this patient leaflet

Patient groups and information

Research

Despite affecting up to 10% of the population, endometriosis has historically been under-researched and under-resourced. While this is improving, there is still much we do not fully understand. At both Chelsea and Westminster Hospital and West Middlesex University Hospital, we regularly offer clinical trials to further understanding of the disease and improve treatment options.

Chelsea and Westminster Hospital research

  • ENDOSAVE study: Endometrioma sclerotherapy and ovarian preservation
    • Exploring a new approach to treating endometriosis cysts (endometrioma) using sclerotherapy
    • Comparing outcomes with traditional methods, including symptoms, recurrence and ovarian impact
    • Investigating links between endometriosis and inflammation, and the role of surgery in improving this
    • Suitable for patients with endometrioma undergoing surgical management. Contact slb25@ic.ac.uk for further information
  • (Closed) REGAL trial: Recurrence of endometriosis – randomised controlled trial comparing GnRH analogues with add-back HRT versus repeat laparoscopic surgery (View study)
    • Evaluating optimal treatment for recurrence of invasive endometriosis using medical versus surgical approaches
  • (Closed) ACERs study: Assessing a new treatment concept for endometriosis
    • Investigating AMY109 and its impact on symptom improvement and endometriosis nodules

West Middlesex University Hospital research

  • (Closed) ESPRIT2 study: Exploring pre-operative prediction of pelvic endometriosis and inflammatory response to surgery (View study)
    • Randomised controlled trial assessing the benefit of laparoscopic excision/ablation in chronic pelvic pain with superficial peritoneal endometriosis
    • ESPriT+ substudy exploring development of a diagnostic blood test
    • Results expected summer 2026
  • (Coming soon) EPiC2 trial:
    • Randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled feasibility trial evaluating dichloroacetate for endometriosis-associated pain
    • Non-hormonal therapy currently used in mitochondrial disorders
    • West Middlesex is a participating site alongside the University of Edinburgh

Who is leading the Trust’s research work?

Chelsea and Westminster Hospital

  • Mr Thomas Bainton – Consultant Gynaecologist, Chelsea and Westminster Hospital; Imperial College London
  • Dr Sarah Bennett – Clinical Research Fellow and Senior Registrar, Chelsea and Westminster Hospital; Imperial College London
  • Prof Mark Johnson – Professor of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Chelsea and Westminster Hospital; Imperial College London
  • Dr Viki Male – Associate Professor in Reproductive Immunology, Imperial College London

West Middlesex University Hospital

  • Miss Natalie Nunes – Consultant Gynaecologist
  • Lauren Trepte – Senior Research Midwife

Patient and public involvement

We believe the involvement of patients, their families and carers is key to delivering the best possible care. We run regular, free engagement and awareness events.

These sessions offer an opportunity to better understand endometriosis and the patient journey. They include multidisciplinary talks and breakout sessions covering colorectal surgery, fertility, physiotherapy and psychological support.

Events are held quarterly in the CW+ studio at Chelsea and Westminster Hospital and are led by the endometriosis nursing team.

Email chelwest.endometriosis@nhs.net to join the mailing list.

Teaching and education

The Chelsea Centre for Minimally Invasive Gynaecology (CCMIG) provides surgical training in London, online and internationally. We deliver courses for gynaecologists at all stages of their careers, supporting the development of the skills needed to treat a wide range of conditions, including endometriosis.

Our aim is to train surgeons to the highest standards, enabling more patients to benefit from high-quality, minimally invasive care.

Media

  • Summer 2026 (upcoming): BBC documentary on endometriosis 
  • Jul 2025: The Sun covers robotic surgery on obese patients
  • May 2025: The Sun covers minimally invasive robotic surgery at Chelsea and Westminster Hospital
  • Jun 2023: Department for Health interview publication on national social media campaign re Surgical HIT lists.
  • Apr 2023: Channel 4's Victoria Macdonald speaks to our team about the endometriosis care and research we provide
  • May 2023: Evening Standard cover gynaecology High Intensity Theatre Lists 
  • Mar 2022: Financial Times interview on tackling backlog. 
  • Oct 2022: Below the Belt, the vicious cycle of endometriosis film screening—We were delighted to host the first ever screening of this impactful film documentary in a healthcare setting. The screening was held in our hospital CW+ MediCinema and attended by Director Shannon Cohn and Women’s Health Ambassador Dame Lesley Regal. We hosted patients, policy makers, media, influencers, charity partners and stakeholders.
  • Dec 2022:  The Times interview on improving cancer wait times.

Social media and collaborations

  • We have a YouTube channel with a collection of videos and webinars aimed at both patients and gynaecologists
  • Endometriosis UK—bowel endometriosis Talk with Mr Raza and Our colorectal surgeon Mr Warren
  • Not defined by endo—Mr Thomas Bainton, our research fellow, in collaboration with not defined by endo, has produced high quality, evidenced based podcasts covering a wide range of endometriosis specific topics (season 3)

National and international professional events

In our strive to improve the care we offer our patients, we routinely engage in quality improvement, service evaluation projects and audits, and present our work to peers in the field of endometriosis and minimally invasive surgery.

Surgical video presentations

  • (future) BSGE 2026: Beyond the pelvis: surgical excision of umbilical endometriosis
  • ESGE 2025: The role of robotic surgery in overcoming challenges and treating complications of abdominal surgery in complex deep endometriosis
  • SERGS 2025: Robot-assisted laparoscopic ethanol sclerotherapy
  • ESGE 2024: Robotic myomectomy performed by a senior robotics trainee using the da Vinci robotic surgical system in a teaching hospital in London, UK
  • BSGE 2024: Management of laparoscopic entry technique complications: Veress injury to stomach via Palmer’s point with nasogastric tube in situ (video poster)
  • BSGE 2024: Robotic versus straight stick laparoscopy for the management of pelvic sepsis – a video demonstration of the benefits of the robotic approach (video poster)
  • BSGE 2024: Large tissue specimen containment and retrieval techniques in minimal access surgery – a video overview of techniques (video poster)
  • BSGE 2024: Systematic approach for excision of rectovaginal nodule: dissecting a complex procedure into 5 steps to excise disease and restore pelvic anatomy (video poster)
  • WCE 2023: Excision of anterior abdominal wall endometriotic nodule and reconstruction: a video vignette
  • AAGL 2022: Complex endometriosis with disc excision: an educational video (finalist)
  • BSGE 2022: Incidental finding of deep infiltrating endometriosis (DIE) causing bilateral hydroureter in a patient with total colectomy and ileoanal pouch and defunctioning ileostomy for inflammatory bowel disease (IBD)
  • BSGE 2022: Laparoscopic excision of rectovaginal endometriosis: video laparoscopy demonstrating three methods – rectal shave, discoid rectal resection with rectal stapler, and segmental anterior resection, including preoperative planning and intraoperative decision-making
  • BSGE 2022: Identification and protection of the pelvic ureter in invasive endometriosis: a technique for preoperative ureteric catheterisation without specialist urological input or on-table radiography
  • BSGE 2021: Laparoscopic anterior resection for DIE

Oral presentations

  • BSGE 2025: RIGS-V1 – Robotic myomectomy – Olivia Raglan
  • SERGS 2025: Raglan O, Flint R, Kaur MM, Ahmed J. Efficiency: implementation of a same day discharge robotic programme
  • SERGS 2025: Raglan O. Human factor errors in robotic gynaecology surgery
  • BSGE 2024: Raglan O. Robotic surgery essentials. Invited speaker, British Society of Gynaecological Endoscopy webinar series, UK
  • BIARGS 2024: Raglan O. Implementation of the BIARGS/RCOG robotic SITM. Invited speaker
  • BIARGS 2024: McDougall A, Raglan O. Total robotic hysterectomy in 10 steps
  • BIARGS 2024: McDougall A, Raglan O. Efficient high intensity robotic theatres: lessons learned from a high-volume benign gynaecology centre at Chelsea and Westminster Hospital
  • BIARGS 2023: Raglan O. Robotic excision of bladder and ureteric endometriosis
  • BSGE 2024: FCV-210 – Is there still a place for staging laparoscopy? Minimising risk: experience of a tertiary BSGE-accredited centre over 2 years
  • BSGE 2024: FCO-141 – 24 cases in 2 days: how to run a successful robotic high intensity theatre (HIT) list – implementation of the UK’s first robotic HIT weekend, C&W Robotic Gynaecology Team
  • BSGE 2024: FCO-289 – Exploration of body mass index, lifetime body shape, physical activity and figure descriptors in relation to endometriosis diagnosis in 402 prospectively recruited symptomatic patients undergoing first laparoscopic surgery
  • WCE 2023: Surgical training presents a global challenge for treatment of endometriosis: a model for delivery and maintenance in a low-resource setting
  • ESGE 2022: The unmet need for psychological support for endometriosis-related chronic pelvic pain: a review of current clinical practice
  • BSGE 2022: Anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH) testing prior to endometrioma surgery in reproductive-age women not seeking assisted fertility care: a survey of current UK clinical practice
  • BSGE 2022: Endometriosis diagnostic index
  • BSGE 2022: Rectal injury and repair

Poster presentations

  • (future) BSGE 2026: An update on using conscious sedation in ambulatory gynaecology: Safety and patient satisfaction
  • BSGE 2025: Conscious sedation in ambulatory gynaecology: Success, safety and acceptability
  • ESGE 2025: Robotic assisted laparoscopic hysterectomy for gender affirmation: experience at a tertiary centre
  • SERGS 2025: Efficiency in high intensity robotic theatres: insights from a high-volume benign gynaecology centre
  • BIARGS 2024: Evaluating surgical outcomes in benign robotic gynaecological procedures: outcome metrics and insights from Chelsea and Westminster Hospital NHS Foundation Trust
  • BIARGS 2024: A myth or reality? Case series of same day discharge robotic hysterectomy in a morbidly obese cohort
  • SERGS 2024: A 5-step standard retrieval technique for large specimens in robotic surgery
  • SERGS 2024: Rectal shave for bowel endometriosis: 3 ways to shave and fundamental principles
  • BSGE 2024: Decision making in ureteric endometriosis: preoperative planning and intraoperative surgical techniques including indocyanine green (ICG)
  • BSGE 2024: Robotic surgery in an emergency setting: a case series for pelvic sepsis
  • BSGE 2024: Go green! The benefits of indocyanine green (ICG) in benign robotic gynaecology surgery
  • BSGE 2024: Same day discharge robotic assisted hysterectomy in the morbidly obese – a case series
  • WEC 2023: Patient engagement in upcoming PIFU rollout at a BSGE endometriosis centre
  • WEC 2023: Experience of patients referred to the pain management service for endometriosis chronic pelvic pain at a BSGE endometriosis centre
  • BSGE 2022: The experience of a BSGE endometriosis centre: a summary of 14 years and 598 cases
Contributors
susanon rhian emma George Vasilopoulos